WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Hurricane Milton is currently a very strong Category 4 storm on Tuesday, located about 600 miles away from the east coast of Florida. It's predicted to restrengthen into a Category 5.
Ahead of Milton making landfall near Tampa Bay and Sarasota late Wednesday night, it will encounter some shear and drier air, which will help the system weaken slightly.
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Despite the light weakening, it will still be a system that causes concern and life-threatening conditions.
There are mandatory evacuations along the west coast of Florida due to storm surge concerns. Loose debris from Hurricane Helene two weeks ago that hasn't been cleaned up or secured will be life-threatening, as it will be lashed across the area with the strong winds.
"Parts of St. Lucie County, Martin County, northwestern Palm Beach County, and the lake under that slight risk for isolated flash flooding," WPTV First Alert Weather meteorologist Jennifer Correa said. "More flash flooding, though, expected across northern parts of Okeechobee, Indian River counties."
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We will experience increasing winds on Tuesday with more scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly during the afternoon and into the early evening hours.
The threat for tornadic activity will increase Wednesday morning, and the threat for tropical storm force winds will exist Wednesday through Thursday.
"As we get into your Wednesday, this is going to be one of your impact days from Milton," WPTV First Alert Weather meteorologist Frances Peyton said. "A lot of good rainfall moves across the area Wednesday morning and continues into the afternoon and evening timeframe."
Peyton said the wind will really pick up starting Wednesday afternoon, with gusts of anywhere between 30 to 70 mph possible, along with additional rainfall totals of one to three inches.
"The farther north you go, the stronger the winds are going to be," Peyton said. "Indian River County under a hurricane watch. We're going to expect to see some winds gusts up to 75 miles per hour, especially near the peak of this near Wednesday night into Thursday."
Peyton added that drier air will eventually move into South Florida starting on Friday.
Hurricane Milton is fast moving and looks to cross the state in a matter of about 10 hours after landfall.
